The Pentagon says it does not discuss contractor support to particular missions. The gear aboard mimics cell towers.
Private military contractor Metrea has spent months quietly operating two surveillance-equipped aircraft along the U.S.-Mexico border, according to the Arizona Mirror.
Via the Arizona MirrorThe planes have traversed Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, circling at high altitude over border cities including Bisbee and Douglas in Arizona, and Laredo and El Paso in Texas.
Metrea holds multiple contracts with the U.S. military, including a $5.7 million award to support training for U.S. Special Operations Command. The company also conducts simulated training missions for the Marine Corps.
It performs comparable border work overseas, providing what it describes as advanced aerial surveillance to the Australian government for monitoring that country's border regions.
Arizona Mirror reports:
One of the major pieces of equipment installed on the aircraft is a DRT 3300, also sometimes re